CRC environmental legislation 'not major driver in preventing climate change'

The carbon reduction commitment (CRC) energy efficiency environmental legislation has not been effective at encouraging organisations to reduce their emission levels and slow down the effects of climate change.

This is the opinion of David Craven, senior associate for sustainability at design studio Woods Bagots, who said that although it has had a small impact, it is "not really being seen as a major driver" for businesses.

At the moment, the CRC is a mandatory scheme for companies, aimed at encouraging firms to change their behaviour and infrastructure to be more energy-efficient by means of financial and reputational motivations.

However, later this week (December 17th 2010), the Department of Energy and Climate Change will close consultations on ways to amend the initiative.

Mr Craven has suggested that developments to the environmental legislation need to be made, as it is "not such a strong consideration" among companies at the moment.

Speaking at the Sustainability Now event which took place last week, he added that the CRC is still a "minor factor compared to everything else that their tenants are looking at".

Posted by Lauren Steadman